Overview
- The recall covers 20,349 U.S. vehicles—18,735 Model Y crossovers (2020–2023) and 1,614 Model 3 sedans (2017–2023)—that were built or serviced with specific Marelli headlamp assemblies.
- Regulators say light output in the outer upper‑left and upper‑right test areas exceeded FMVSS No. 108 limits, with some measurements reported near 230 candela versus a cited reference maximum around 125 candela.
- Tesla has known about the noncompliance since 2024, petitioned NHTSA to call the defect inconsequential, and had that petition denied in July 2026 before formally filing the recall with NHTSA in early August.
- Tesla says a remedy is still under development, owner notification letters will be mailed beginning around Sept. 15, 2026, and the fix may require replacing discontinued headlamp assemblies rather than an over‑the‑air software update.
- As of early August Tesla reported three warranty claims and one field report tied to the lights and no crashes or injuries, and the recall adds an exterior‑lighting compliance issue to other ongoing federal reviews of Tesla vehicles.